| Strike one! Strike two! Strike three! | | | | outfield and who is likely to win a Gold Glove. |
| Baseball! America\'s Pastime, and a sport growing | | | | Focus your attention on the stars as they most |
| in popularity throughout the world, where the | | | | likely will make the best photographs, but don\'t |
| Boys of Summer slug it out. A baseball game is | | | | be so drawn to celebrity that you miss a role |
| the perfect way to spend a lazy summer | | | | player making a crucial steal or diving catch that |
| afternoon, plus it provides opportunities to take | | | | wins the game for their team! |
| photos that last a lifetime. | | | | 7) When the opening lineup starts, look at the |
| While many claim the sport of baseball is a | | | | dugout. If you\'re rooting for the home team, the |
| slow-paced affair, when action does occur, it can | | | | beginning of the game is a great time to get |
| happen very swiftly, almost too fast for an | | | | player photographs as they are running out onto |
| unskilled photographer to shoot the photos they | | | | the field. If not, take photographs during the |
| desire. Baseballs fly quickly when hit or thrown, | | | | middle of the inning. If you don\'t get the perfect |
| and timing the action for when to take a digital | | | | photo, delete bad photographs during lull times and |
| photograph requires split-second reflexes. Thus, | | | | try later during the game. |
| before you plan on taking photos at a baseball | | | | 8) To take a picture of a swinging batter that will |
| game, you may wish to read the following advice: | | | | last a lifetime, do the following: |
| 1) First, make sure you are allowed to bring your | | | | *) Preparation is the key. First, before the game, |
| digital camera to the baseball game. Some | | | | know how to operate your digital camera. |
| ballparks have no restrictions, others on the zoom | | | | Practice focusing the camera and quickly deleting |
| length, some on using flash, and some may not | | | | unused photos - sometimes you can delete an |
| allow you into the baseball game at all with your | | | | unwanted photo before it is completely saved to |
| camera! | | | | the camera\'s memory. |
| 2) Change your camera settings to take the | | | | *) Before the pitch, focus your viewfinder on the |
| quickest photographs possible while still providing | | | | batter\'s box and try not to cut out any of the |
| plenty of light for the photograph. You\'ll need to | | | | batter\'s body. Zoom in as appropriate, but |
| read your camera\'s manual on how to change | | | | remember the more you zoom in, the slower the |
| these settings; for example, consider saving | | | | potential shutter speed needed to take a clear |
| photos as JPG instead of RAW to take photos | | | | photo. |
| faster. | | | | *) Anticipate shutter lag. Lock your focus before |
| Just remember that the quicker the shutter | | | | the pitch; this usually is done by pressing the |
| speed, the less light enters the camera to take | | | | shutter button down half-way. |
| the picture. Thus, you\'ll need to compromise | | | | *) Time it... time it... then as soon as the ball is |
| picture speed and the amount of light to take | | | | about to hit the bat, press down fully on the |
| great photos. That is why baseball games work | | | | shutter button. |
| well with photography - many games are played | | | | *) If the pitch is a strike or the swing is not one |
| on sunny days or in well-lit domes or stadiums | | | | to be remembered, cancel the save so your |
| that allow you to take crisp, high-action photos. | | | | picture is not written to memory. This way, you |
| 3) Before going to a big league ballpark, make | | | | can save room for other photos. |
| sure you know the rules and nuances of the | | | | 9) Look around for photo opportunities not |
| game. Practice taking photos at a minor-league, | | | | directly related to the action. Take a photograph |
| college, or high school baseball game. The stakes | | | | of the grounds crew cleaning the bases and raking |
| aren\'t quite as high if you miss a shot, and taking | | | | the dirt between innings. Get a few shots of the |
| your camera to a game will give you more insight | | | | crowd. Take a picture of the scoreboard. Look at |
| into when action occurs and when players just | | | | the surrounding area. If you want to remember |
| stand around. | | | | the full experience of a baseball game years from |
| 4) Have extra batteries and digital camera | | | | now, you should take advantage of one of the |
| memory handy and practice switching both out | | | | best features of a digital camera - the ability to |
| quickly before the game! A three and a half hour | | | | take lots and lots of photographs - and shoot |
| game can put a tremendous strain on even the | | | | photographs showcasing the FULL baseball |
| most power-miserly camera, and more often | | | | experience. |
| than not you will have to switch out power or | | | | 10) Take a break during the game! You came to |
| memory in the middle of an inning. | | | | the baseball game to enjoy the spectacle, not |
| 5) Don\'t worry if you miss a shot! Unless you | | | | just to take pictures, right? Designate a few |
| have tons of digital camera memory, you may | | | | innings as photo-free time where you just sit |
| not be able to continuously shoot photograph | | | | back, munch on a hot dog, drink a soda, and soak |
| after photograph. If you miss a key pitch, the | | | | in the environment. |
| swing of a bat, or a forced out, don\'t get angry! | | | | Remember to study your digital camera manual |
| More often than not, new opportunities will arise | | | | first and practice, practice, practice! Follow these |
| for great photographs. | | | | ten tips and you\'ll be on your way to taking |
| 6) Study the lineup first. Know who are the key | | | | \"home run\" baseball photographs in no time. |
| players and those who barely know how to swing | | | | Copyright 2005 Andrew Malek. |
| a bat. Likewise, learn who has loose hands in the | | | | |